65 



think, be affirmed that they were given to, or purchased 

 by, pilgrims, and distributed on solemn occasions. They 

 were worn on the cap or sleeve very often, not without a 

 notion of talismanic virtues. The inscription in this case 

 was one to which some such quality was certainly attributed: 

 "Jesus NaZARENUSRex 

 " Judaeorum. Someof the letters 

 " are somewhat misshapen and 

 " blundered, as most commonly 

 " occurs in these tokens ; but this 

 " was the legend. This phrase 

 " enters frequently into the com- 

 " position of medieval charms, in- 

 " tended to be worn about the 

 " person." 

 Rim of Token, restored. 



In addition to these articles there are fragments of 

 metal — some of the compositions of brass ; and pieces of 

 what appear to have been metal chaldrons. There are also 

 coins of various dates, from Edward I. to George III. — 

 some of those of the last two centuries being copper. The 

 more ancient coins are all broken into quadrants and 

 semicircles through the cross which each of them bore. 

 This may have been done intentionally, as we know that 

 the halves of coins passed for the half of their value, or 

 it may have been the result of accident. Unfortunately, 

 the paper containing the coins has been mislaid. 



V. MATERIAL. 



We see here the metals lead, silver, copper, iron, and 

 brass ; but Dr. Brett, to whose analysis they were subjected, 

 has not been able to detect any tin in the articles which he 

 examined. This would be an important fact, as it would 

 identify the articles with the Roman period of the Christian 

 era, when " brass" was bronze, when the tin of the Scilly 

 isles was extensively procured by the nations of autiquity 

 'or the manufacture of their armour; and when the mixture 

 }f copper with zinc was unknown. It is possible, too, that 

 some of the rings in the collection may prove to be gold — 

 the only articles likely to be of that material. 



VI. ANTIQUITY. 



It is evident — from the manufacture of the articles, 

 f/om their comparative rudeness or artistic finish, as well as 



K 



